Update April 2, 5:00 p.m.: Rift Valley Commander George Natembeya has announced the sacking of four police officers over misconduct while enforcing the nationwide curfew.
The officers who were stationed in Mauche and Nakuru Town areas were fired after breaking limbs of 3 residents on the evening Wednesday, April 1.
Natembeya while addressing the media, cautioned officers against employing excessive force in enforcement also urging that members of the public cooperate in ensuring the process is effective.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has launched investigations into the reported cases of police brutality in the country during the enforcement of the nationwide curfew.
Through a statement released on Tuesday, March 31, IPOA stated that it was aware of the deaths of three individuals at the hands of police, also noting several incidents of assault on members of the public.
The oversight body informed that it had dispatched a team of experts to investigate the death of a 13-year-old Yasin Moyo who was killed by a police bullet on Monday, March 30, 2020.
"IPOA has dispatched its Rapid Response Team to commence investigations in the shooting. The Authority has attended the postmortem investigation and has also identified potential witnesses for statement recording," the statement reads in part.
Also on the probe is the case of a 49-year-old man who succumbed to injuries in Likoni after he was assaulted by the police on March 27, 2020. The agency dispatched a similar team to investigate if the injuries were indeed sustained from the assault.
The third incident is of Calvince Omondi, a boda boda rider, who died after sustaining serious injuries inflicted on him by police officers from Kosele Police station in Homa Bay county on March 27, 2020.
Calvince was pronounced dead on March 29, while undergoing treatment.
IPOA also highlighted the assault and grievous injury of one Justus Olumbe who was assaulted by riot police in Nyatike Migori County on March 29, 2020.
The authority also mentioned the case of police officers in Nakuru caught on camera assaulting residents and motorists who were rushing home to beat the 7 p.m curfew on March 27.
"IPOA took up the investigations in the matter on own motion. Investigations are ongoing. The three officers captured in the video have been interdicted," the statement reads in part.
The agency stated that the cases are under active investigation in line with the constitution and upon completion, the authority would make recommendations to relevant authorities for prosecution, compensation, internal disciplinary action or any other appropriate relief.
"As part of the investigation process, IPOA appeals to victims or witnesses of the various incidents to come forward and register their witness accounts with the authority."
